Psalm 119 v89-96

Good morning. Today, our study in Psalms 119 takes us to chapters 89, verses, chapter 119, verses 89 through 96, Lamed, verses 89 through 96. And I'm gonna always mention this before each time in case there's someone who just pops his message up and listens.

I'd like to say what the structure of Psalm 19 is real quick. It's an acrostic poem. which means it's structured in such a way that each chapter begins with the letters of the Hebrew alphabet. And then each stanza labeled with the Hebrew letters also starts with that letter. And each stanza is eight verses. The reason the original authors wrote this chapter like this was simply for memorization Plus, it's a beautiful poem structure.

Since we are reading an English version of this, we do lose a little of the Crossic nature, because our English words for each section of the stanza don't start with the same letter, like the Hebrew letter did. But in Crossic poems, like if you took, this is kind of a silly one, if you took the word Bible and wrote it vertically, Bible, basic instructions before leaving Earth, that's kind of like what a Crossic poem is. is the 12th letter, and it represents learning, teaching, direction, and authority. And I mean, what an appropriate section to relate to Christ.

Direction, in John chapter 14, verses five and six, Thomas said unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest, and how can we know the way? And Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the light. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. Jesus is the direction. In John chapter six, verses 67 through 68, Jesus said unto the 12, will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." He's the only direction.

And Teacher, in John 3, verses 1 and 2, There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, that means teacher, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do the miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. And in Matthew chapter seven, verses 28 and 29, and it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings that people were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them, For he taught them having authority, just like the word Lamech means.

Direction, teaching, authority. In ancient Hebrew, the letter was drawn as a shepherd's staff or cattle goad. It represents authority, guidance, and prodding the flock in the right direction. The Hebrew root word means to learn or to teach. It embodied the idea that education and passing on wisdom are essential to the elevating of the human spirit. As a prefix, Lamed means to, for, or toward. It indicates the destination, purpose, and direction of an action.

Lamed is the tallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Because it extends taller than all the other letters, it symbolizes royalty, reaching for the heavens, and the ultimate sovereignty of the King of Kings. Again, Jesus. He is the ultimate sovereignty and the King of Kings. Lament has a numerical value of 30. In Jewish tradition, 30 represents a time of readiness, responsibility, and reaching full maturity. For example, King David began his reign at age 30, and Jesus began his public ministry at age 30.

The author of Psalm 119, and in verse 89, is unknown, because the chapter does not name the writer. While the exact writer isn't specified, Bible scholars have attributed the authors to a number of Old Testament prophets. King David, Ezra the Scribe, Daniel, or Jeremiah are some that are believed to be the authors of various sections. Most biblical scholars date the writing between the 6th and 5th centuries BC, during the Babylonian exile or after the exile period, if that was under Ezra. Though some Jewish traditions suggest that King David wrote it earlier to teach his son Solomon the Hebrew alphabet.

Whoever wrote the chapter and Psalms, we know the Bible is the inspired word of God. Amen. And all scripture is worthy of study and reference as we read in 2 Timothy 3, 16 and 17. All scripture is given by inspiration to God and is profitable. good works. So Psalm chapter 119 verses 89 through 96 Lamed reads, Forever O Lord thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations. Thou hast established the earth and it abideth. They continue this day according thine ordinances for all are thine servants. Thy servants.

Unless the law had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget thy precepts, for with them thou hath quickened me. I am thine, save me, for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will consider thy testimonies. I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy commanding is exceeding broad. Psalm 119, Lament, verse 89.

Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. This verse is filled with the definition of why God's word is so powerful. Starting with forever, God's word is eternal, unchangeable, undeniably divine by nature. The word of God is by far the most amazing literary work of all time.

The book has 60, 66 books by 40 authors written over thousands of years by people who never met. And they all talk about the same thing, Jesus Christ and him crucified. It's it's in itself proof of the divinity of the truth. The Bible has never been proven wrong, and it's only been proven right over and over.

Any person who's ever set out to prove the Bible wrong and spent years doing it their entire life sometimes have been converted to believing. that it's true, and it's the inspired word of God. People either love the word of God, or they hate it. They either cling to the truths in God's word, or they despise it, shaking their fist in God's face, screaming, I will not have you rule over me. That's what we all were at one time.

Romans chapter eight, verse seven, because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it's not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. The scripture in scripture enmity means a deep rooted state of irreconcilable hostility, hatred, opposition, irreconcilable hostility. I think that definition really sums it up because unless God does a work in a person's heart to take away their stony heart and give them a heart of flesh, that person will continue in their hatred of God and God's people for that matter. Second Corinthians chapter 2 verse 16 reads, to one we are the saver of death unto death, and to other the saver of life unto life. This literally means that to the unregenerate, the very thought of God and his word is the smell of death.

Have you ever got a good whiff of death? You're driving down the road on a hot summer day, you don't have air conditioning or it's broke, and your window's down, you come to some road work or a stop, Then all of a sudden, that awful stench of roadkill billows through your car. You don't even have to be stopped. You could just be driving by, and it'll do it. It's an undeniably wretched stench of death. You roll up your windows, but it's still there. Awful, repulsive. It's disgusting, and that just doesn't quite cover it. That's what the word of God is to the unregenerate. They can't stand it.

Unless the Holy Spirit does the work in that person's heart, on a child of God, giving them faith to believe, that word will smell like death. But when he does, when he does believe the gospel, which is God's word, then that word smells like the sweet-smelling savor of life. And you can't get enough of that smell. It reminds me of a mother smelling the sweet fragrance of her little baby's head. I don't know what it is, but I've heard several moms say nothing smells better than their sweet little baby's head. Still on the first verse of Lament, which represents learning, teaching, direction, and authority, how appropriate this first verse is in considering that meaning.

Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. God's word is the most powerful thing that we could ever imagine. He speaks and worlds are created. He speaks, and life comes into existence. And when He speaks in a poor and needy sinner's heart, He takes the Word of God that used to smell like death, and He makes it smell sweet. And you can't get enough of it. Now, if I didn't conclude this statement about God's Word with this one thing, I'd be doing you a great injustice.

God's Word is Christ. God's Word is the Living Word. Just as Jesus Christ is sitting on his throne ruling all things, like the psalmist said, thy word is settled in heaven. That's Christ on his throne, he's settled in heaven. Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. That scripture is a perfect definition of the Lord Jesus in his eternal glory, who is the word and rules all things.

And here's a few scriptures to back that up. John chapter one, verses one through three. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was God, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In Hebrews 1 1-3, God at sundry times in diverse manners spake in time past unto the Father by the prophets, hath in these days spoken to us unto us by his son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom he also made the worlds, who, being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down in the right hand of the majesty on high, Upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sin, there's the power displayed in Jesus Christ God Almighty again. And another testament to how our Savior by himself purged our sins, like the song says, ♪ Who can wash away my sin ♪ ♪ Nothing but the blood of Jesus ♪ Psalm 119 landed, verse 90.

Thy faithfulness is unto all generations. Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. In this verse, the psalmist attributes God's unchanging faithfulness to how the earth is stable, and how God designed and established the physical world so firmly that it endures, like God's promises and truth, how they are equally solid, dependable, and everlasting. The psalmist recognizes that the earth stays established because of God's faithfulness. It abideth, as the psalmist says.

Just like we read in Hebrews chapter 1, verse 3, upholding all things by the word of his power. There is a reason for this. Because God isn't willing to lose not a single one of his chosen blood-bought children. Jesus paid it all. He purchased his lost sheep with a great price. The free gift of faith costs more than anything we could ever possibly imagine. Our Lord Jesus Christ swept drops of blood just at the thought of what he was going to willingly endure. Who has ever done that? Sweat drops of blood. I don't think anyone's ever has. And he did it to save his people from their sins.

This is a testament of how thy faithfulness is unto all generations, as said by the psalmist. In Matthew 1, verse 21, and he shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. In John 6, verse 39, and this is the words of Jesus Christ, God Almighty. And this is the Father's will, which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations, as the psalmist said. It's the reason God, in the face of Jesus Christ, is holding all things together by the word of his power. The world is literally being held In Matthew chapter 18 verse 14, Jesus says, even so is not the will of your father, which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. That's the words of God again. He's not gonna lose one of his sheep.

In Psalm chapter 119, remember it represents learning, teaching, direction, and authority. In verse 91, They continue this day according to thine ordinances, for all are thy servants. This verse is tied to the previous verse, so let me re-read them together. Verse 90 and 91.

Thy faithfulness is unto all generations. Thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances, for all are thy servants. The psalmist notes that the heavens, the earth and the seasons operate with absolute precision and continuity.

This consistency is not random. It's maintained by God's ordinances or decrees. And in fact, in physics, they do not know why everything doesn't fly apart. It's God, by the word of his power, holding all things together because he's not going to lose one of his sheep. That's that's true physics. I love that. Isaiah chapter 40, verse 21 through 26. Had he not known, had he not heard, hath it not been told to you from the beginning, had he not understood from the foundations of the earth, it is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth. Hold on real quick there. Sorry, flat earthers. Telescope wasn't invented until 1608. Isaiah, 600, 700 BC. Now it's about 2,300 years. And he knew it was round then, so you can't believe the earth is flat and believe the word of God. Sorry, flat earthers.

It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers, that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain. He spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in. To whom, then, will ye liken me? Or shall I be equal, saith the Holy One?

Lift up your eyes on high and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number. He calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power, not one faileth. Talk about authority and knowledge. God calls each star by name.

That's crazy to think about. It's beyond our comprehension, actually. I wonder how he knows the very count of the hairs on my head. Because the Bible says that, too. When you think about naming the stars in heaven, we estimate that there's one septillion stars. That's one followed by 24 zeros. And that's just man's best, most educated guess, because he has no idea. The deeper they look into space, the more they see, the more they find, the more they realize how little we know. Which we obviously can't number, but the number on an average human's head is around 90,000 to 150,000. That's a comprehensible number. If you want to be taught by someone who's a good teacher, you want a teacher that knows everything. That's God. Amen. So anyways, Luke chapter 12, verse 7, but even the very hairs of your head are all numbered, and that's the words of God, Jesus Christ, God Almighty, and His Spirit right there.

So when the psalmist says in verse 91, they continue this day according to thine ordinances, for all are thy servants. The psalmist is declaring that the earth and everything in it is God's servant. The devil is God's servant and can't do anything unless he lets him off his leash, as the scriptures declare in the book of Job. How much more then, since God is in control of everything, including our salvation, how much more should we give him all the praise and the glory for our faith? to believe the gospel of Christ and Him crucified. Psalm 119, Lamed, verse 92. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction.

This verse shows how the psalmist determines to keep God's teachings, laws, and instructions in his heart, not just because God commands him to, similar to how God commands everyone everywhere to believe the gospel. but because he delights to. This is like when we read earlier how God's word is the sweet smelling savior of life to the believer. God's word is sweet to the believer and it smells like death to the unregenerate. We know as the psalmist declares that if God didn't give us the precious gift of faith to believe the gospel, then we would die in our afflictions as the psalmist declares. lest the law have been my delight, I should then have perished in my affliction," said the psalmist. In our case, it is not different than our psalmist.

Our affliction is the stony heart, a heart of rebellion and hatred towards God, the enmity we read about earlier in Romans 8, verse 7. The enmity that started in the garden when Adam thrust all into enmity, spiritually dead towards God. But Christ, who is our life, or the one before, I liken to the law, because we are under the law of love. God is love, and Jesus is God, and the Spirit, the great three in one.

So that being said, I can say like the psalmist, unless the law, Christ, had been my delights, I should then have perished in my affliction, which is my enmity towards God. The psalmist said, unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished. And we say, unless the law of Christ had been my delights, would have perished in our affliction, which is our enmity towards God.

No person deserves grace. You can't earn or work for grace. It is the gift of God. And for that reason alone, we rejoice in God's grace. Otherwise, you'd be rejoicing in yourself. we know there's nothing good, there's nothing to rejoice in in ourselves. Philippians chapter four, verse four, rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice. First Peter chapter one, verse eight, whom having not seen ye love, in whom though now ye see him not yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Isaiah chapter 61, verse 10, I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God, for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with jewels. That is a direct reflection of God clothing us with the grace of Christ and his righteousness. for us on the cross.

Psalm 119, Lambeth, verse 93. I will never forget thy precepts, for with them thou hast quickened me. In this verse, the psalmist declares that the word of God is unforgettable, because he recognizes that it's the very word of God that's given him life. For thou hast quickened me, says the psalmist.

We consider this earlier in the message, God's word is the most powerful thing we could ever imagine. Hebrews 4, verse 12. For the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the defining asunder of the soul and spirit and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart. John 6, verse 47. Jesus says, verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on me hath everlasting life. Amen. That is the psalmist in verse 93. For with them thou hast quickened me, God's word. When Jesus can speak that to you, and you can believe in faith.

And interesting, you know, Don Fortner used to always bring out how half, like anything that ended with a th was a, it was more than just a present, it's a future. right now he's giving you everlasting life anyone who's saved is being saved we still have that flesh to contend with and when we go to the grave that's when we are saved because then we no longer have that flesh to contend with and that's everlasting life after we go through that doormark death. God's word gives life to all who believe but not just believe the devil believes and is going to hell for eternity What I mean is to believe God's word about how the only way to be saved is to trust Jesus and his finished work on the cross.

It's our only hope to be justified in God's sight, to trust the blood he shed as our substitute for God's wrath, because God must punish sin. God can't even look upon sin without judging it and punishing it. So without Christ as our substitute, there is no hope. There's no hope for salvation, only the expectation of God's wrath.

In Psalm 119, verse 93, when the psalmist declares, I will never forget thy precepts, he declares this truth because the word of God that has given him life is inscribed on his heart, like how Jeremiah describes in chapter 31, verse 33 of Jeremiah. But this shall be a covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people. Once God writes his holy word on a person's heart, they will never forget as the psalmist declared.

And this is the same for when God calls a sinner out of darkness into his glorious light. That sinner will never forget the wonderful good news of the gospel of God's free grace. There is mercy to be found with God by trusting Jesus Christ and trusting the blood of Christ as the substitute for our hell-bound sinful souls. He's speaking of the Word of God and how it has given him life.

And this truth is the same for us. John 3, verse 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. Chapter 119, Lamed, verse 94. I am thine, save me, for I have sought thy precepts. This verse could be considered a sinner's prayer. Not that any prayer can save a sinner.

For we know the word of God declares that faith is what saves. We are saved by grace through faith. Ephesians chapter two, verse eight and nine tell us this. For by grace you are saved through faith and that not of yourself, it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. With that in regard, this plea from the psalmist is an honest plea that we could all make. I am dying, says the psalmist.

Save me. We are God's handiwork. God has the right to do with what he created whatever he pleases. It's a great and good thing our God is so loving and merciful to sinners who come to him in Christ. To ask God to save us, as the psalmist does, is something I think all sinners everywhere should pray always. I don't just mean asking God to save us from our enemies and our dangers in life, but save us from ourselves, O Lord, every day, the greatest enemy. Save us from our pride that so easily besets us.

Looking to Christ God always in all things, as the psalmist says, for I have sought thy precepts. That's what Lamed means, direction. Teach us, Lord, sought thy precepts. Look to Christ, our direction. Jesus is the word, Jesus is the precepts. We established that early.

119 Lament, verse 95. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will consider thy testimonies. In this scripture, we see that the utter depravity of mankind is something we all have to deal with. Not only in the time of the psalmist, but the same in our time. There is nothing new under the sun. Ecclesiastes, I have to mention, people are like, oh man, how bad is it getting? Could you just believe that? I'm like, yeah, there's nothing new under the sun. Nothing new under the sun whatsoever.

Ecclesiastes chapter one, verses one through seven. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea is not full. Unto the place from whence the rivers come, tither they return again. All things are full of labor, man cannot utter it. The eyes is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

The thing that has been is that which shall be, and that which is done is that which shall be done, and there is no new thing under the sun. Is there anything whereupon it may be said, see, this is new? It has already of old time which was before us. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, says the psalmist. But he does not fret. He relies on God's Word, for which us is Christ. We established that earlier. Christ is the Word. God goes before us in this day like the days of old.

To the Israelites, when God rescued and delivered his people from the evil clutches of Pharaoh, In Acts 7.36 is a good summary of that.

He brought them out. After that, he showed wonders and signs in the lands of Egypt. He did miracles no one had ever seen. And in the Red Sea, they found chariot wheels and stuff from the Roman soldiers in the Red Sea. Proving, you know, again, that the Bible is true. People set out to prove it wrong, but they always find out it's true. They walked on dry ground. That's amazing in itself. And in the wilderness, 40 years. Provided food and water for him for 40 years. That's where manicotis came from. Acts chapter 7, 37.

This is that Moses which said unto the children of Israel, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren like unto me. Him shall ye hear. I believe Moses was speaking of Christ, a prophet of the Lord raised up, and him shall ye hear. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me, but I will consider thy testimonies. I will consider Christ, is exactly what the psalmist is saying.

If you consider this scripture in our modern day context. Psalm 119, verse 96. I have seen an end of all perfection, but thy commandment is exceeding broad. In this verse, the psalmist makes a very profound observation. Everything created or achieved by human beings eventually runs its course, whether it's physical strength, intelligence, wealth, earthly success, earthly things inevitably reach an end, reveal flaws, or cease to exist. The psalmist recognizes that nothing flawless, but the Word of God. But thy commandment is exceeding broad, says the psalmist."

Lance Heller used to teach Bible study here. He was such a wise and brilliant man. He's an engineer by trade, very well educated in the secular world, but even more so spiritually. He could take one verse from Colossians and spend a month on it. Lance said the Word of God is rich, full, deep, and complete. He would go on to explain how the living Word of God is so powerful that it will confound us until we meet Him. And the one most important thing Lance never failed to mention was Christ. How Christ has the preeminence of all things, especially the Word. I mean, after all, Christ is the Word. We read that scripture earlier. Let's read it again. John chapter 1, verse 1 through 3.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was God. And the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him, and without him not anything made. There was not anything made. that was made. That includes the word of God.

And when God makes something, he makes it perfect. Incidentally, that's one of the reasons why everyone has eternal life, whether it's in heaven or hell. Because when God creates something, it's forever. The body goes back down into the dirt, dust becomes dust, but the spirit lives forever, because God creates everything perfectly.

Psalm chapter 119, verse 96, says, I have seen an end exceeding God, is rich, full, deep, and complete, as Lance Heller would say. Proverbs chapter 30, verse four and five, who hath ascended up into heaven or descended? Christ has. Who hath gathered the wind in his fist? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who hath established all the ends of the earth? What is his name? What is his son's name, if thou canst tell? That's King Solomon talking about Christ right there in Proverbs. Every word of God is pure. He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. He is a shield that he is Christ. Jesus Christ, God Almighty.

Psalm 119 v89-96

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Psalm 119 v89-96

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